Pipe joint refacing apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO/PNEVJ J Q N .b\ Wm Mg 2 v m M llilll l. \\J NN Q..Q M a d M May 4, 1965 J. M. ROGERS PIPE JOINT REFACING APPARATUS FiledOct. 29, 1962 y 4, 1965 J- M. ROGERS 3,181,398

PIPE JOINT REFACING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

BY M I A TTO/F/VE VJ 1/0/7/7 M. Page/u xx Q Q vQ N? W am *0 R? Q Q m amu R x a s k s .iil w \H WN \b 5/1 3Q R H an J mw MQ Q Q t PR. N 90 m R3 May 4, 1965 Filed Oct. 29, 1962 J. M. ROGERS PIPE JOINT REFACINGAPPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 c/o/7/7 M. Faye/J INVENTOR BY WARM UnitedStates Patent C) 3,181,398 PIPE JGKNT REFAQLNG AP?ARATU John M. Rogers,565 Park, Lining, Tex. Fiied Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,625 6 Claims.(Ci. s2 -4) The present invention relates to apparatus for inspectingand reconditioning used pipe joints. More particularly, the presentinvention is directed to improved apparatus for determining the amountof pipe joint face to remove and performing the refacing operation.

An example of a pipe joint that needs frequent inspection andreconditioning is a tool joint used for connecting drill pipe together.The present invention is described in connection with such tool joints,bearing in mind it has equal application to other types of pipe joints.

The term tool joint is a well-known descriptive name for the couplingsat either end of a drill pipe. Drill pipes are removed and addednumerous times during the drilling operation and subjected to fluidscontaining abrasive materials, to significantly wear the screw threadsand tool joint faces. Used tool joints must be inspected frequently toprevent leakage at the tool joints and to eliminate uneven tool jointfaces that can make it difficult to disengage the tool joints.

in the past it has been the practice to individually inspect each tooljoint at the rig site with a gauging tool to detect the thread wear andirregularities in the tool joint face that cannot be located by visualinspection. The used drill pipe that had to be refaced was shipped to amachine shop where a lathe type apparatus was set up to rework the tooljoint face and, usually at the same time to rethread the tool joint.Considerable time was involved in getting the used pipe to the shop and,in many cases, rethreading of the drill pipe was not necessary eventhough the tool joint face had to be reworked. The machine in the shopthat performed the refacing and rethreading operation was large andexpensive, discouraging portable operation at the rig site.

In the refacing of a tool joint it is important that the new tool jointface he cut in relation to the axis of the tool joint, as determined bythe screw thread. The accurate alignment of the cutting tool isaccomplished in the shop machinery by aligned chucks and, usually, thethreads of the tool joint are reworked, to assure proper relationshipwith the tool joint face. The need remains for a refacing device that isportable and inexpensive enough for a tool pusher to have a set up atthe rig site to inspect a tool joint and perform the refacing operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus that inspects and refaces pipe joints and is small enough foreasy operation at the rig site.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus thatchecks the tool joint face condition, taking into complete allowance thethread wear of the tool joint, and gauges the amount of tool joint faceto remove.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus thatcan be easily set up and quickly operated to inspect the condition of atool joint face and without reinsert-ing another device or moving thedrill pipe to a machine shop, perform the tool joint refacing in preciserelationship with the tool joint screw thread.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tooljoint refacing device for use at the rig site and having provisions forprecisely reworking the tool joint face irrespective of eitherdeformities in the tool joint or irregularities in the attached pipesection that may cause movement of the tool joint on the rack.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following hidifidh description and byreierring to the attached drawings.

In brief, one of the embodiments of the present invention comprisesmeans for engaging a pipe joint having a screw thread. The engagingmeans has a member with a screw thread arranged to mate in lockingengagement with the screw thread of the pipe joint. The engaging meanshas a face spaced from the pipe joint face when the member screw threadis in locking engagement with the pipe joint screw thread, to define aspace for gauging the amount of pipe joint face to remove. A supportmeans mounts the member for rotational movement to engage with the pipejoint, and means is provided to rotate the member for locking engagementof the member screw thread with the pipe joint screw thread to rotatablydrive the pipe joint. Cutting means is provided, carried by supportmeans, and movable for refacing the tool joint as the pipe joint isrotated by the drive means. The support means may be suspended above theground to adapt the refacing tool for use with drill pipe positioned ona pipe rack. The suspension apparatus allows the refacing device tofollow the movement of a crooked or deformed pipe. A gauge may bemounted on the support means and disposed in the space between the faceof the engaging means and the tool joint face to automatically indicatethe amount of tool joint face that can be removed.

For a detailed description of the present invention reference is made tothe drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view in partial section of a refacing apparatusaccording to one embodiment of the present invention, showing thesuspension apparatus, refacing device, tool joint, and pipe rack stand;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a typical tool jointcoupling, illustrating the mode of connection between tool joints as anaid to understanding the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an enlargement of the portion of FIG. 2 circled andidentified by the reference mark 2-A, showing the abutting faces of thetool joints that are properly machined;

FIG. 3 is a plan view in partial section of one embodiment of a tooljoint refacing device in accordance with the present invention,illustrating the refacing of a pin type tool joint;

H6. 4 is a plan view in section with some of the apparatus identical tothat shown in FIG. 3 removed for clarity, and illustrating oneembodiment of the present invention for refacing a box type tool joint;and

FIG. 5 is a plan view in partial section showing one form of gaugeaccording to the present invention, the type used in the apparatus ofFIGS. 3 and 4, that indicates the amount of tool joint face to remove.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings as an introductionto the present invention, a typical set-up at the rig site isillustrated, comprising .a tool joint 1 connected to a drill pipe 2, ofwhich only a portion is shown, one of the several pipe rack stands 3;, atool joint refacing device 4-, and a suspension apparatus 5 resting onground 6. Other types of pipe joints may be refaced according to thepresent invention and, as mentioned previously, the described example ofa tool joint is chosen merely to illustrate the arrangement andoperation of one type of apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

While the tool joint is a familiar piece of apparatus in the oil patch,it may be helpful to briefly review its important features. Theindividual lengths of drill pipe are fastened together by means of thetool joints, the male half of the tool joint, generally referred to asthe pin tool joint, is fastened to one end of an individual piece ofpipe and the female half, generally referred to as the box tool joint isfastened to the other end. The tool joints are necessary, becauseordinary pipe proved to be unsuitable for drill pipe and a'higher gradeof steel must be used at the joints to prevent thread failure andresultant leakage. FIG. 2 illustrates a typical coupling of new tooljoints, the pin tool joint being coupled to the box tool joint 11. Thebox tool joint 11 has a conically shaped opening 13 with side walls thatconverge away from the exterior open end 22. The side walls of box tooljoint opening 13 are threaded with a screw thread 23, helicallyextending about the axis of pin tool joint 10 and box tool joint 11. Thepin tool joint 10 includes an extension 15, conical in shape and havinga smaller diameter at its extreme outer and 16 and symmetrical about thetool joint axis 17. The tool joints 10 and 11 each has a central passage18 and 19,

respectively, to carry the mud used in the drilling opera tion. Pin tooljoint extension has a screw thread on its outer surface that mates withthe screw thread 23 on box joint 11. The screw threads 2t and 23 aregenerally referred to as taper threads in the pipe industry, as theyjaredisposed on tapered surfaces that match when brought together toform a fluid tight tool joint.

When the pin tool joint 10 and box tool joint 11 are screwed together, afluid tight seal occurs between face 26 at the box joint end 22 and face25 on the pin tool joint it). The pin tool joint extension 15 isslightly recessed within the box tool joint 11 to form the face 25. Eachof tool joint faces 25 and 26 lie in planes that are transverse to thetool joint axis 17. As shown in FIG. 2A, which is a blow up of theinterface between the tool points 10 and 11,

when new or properly reconditioned tool joints'are in engagernent, thereis no gap or spacing between faces 25 and 26 and the screw threads 26and 23 are in tight engagement. A fluid type seal is produced by thebinding together of the metal of tool joint faces 25 and 26.

The tight engagement of screw threads 20 and 23 need a not be acomplete, metal-to-rnetal contact from crest to valley of the screwthread to form, in effect, a solid piece of iron. The screw threads 26and 23 are in full thread contact, producing a rigid mechanical threadjoint, even when there is suificient clearance for grease between thescrew threads. Tool joints are originally machined with a tolerance, sothat of an inch of the tool joint face can be removed to bring the tooljoint screw threads into complete-metal-to-metal contact. Even with thisclearance a tight tool joint engagement is obtained, forming a rigidmechanical thread joint.

With this background on tool joints, the importance of and arrangementof one embodiment of the present invention can be easily illustrated anddescribed. It should be first noted that the screw thread 23 on new boxtool joint 11 extends further than necessary to completely engage thepin tool joint extension 15. Box tool joint 11 includes an additionlength 30 of screw thread 23 that permits further tightening of the pintool joint 16) and box tool joint 11 after the screw threads 20 and 23have become worn and are in loose engagement at the extent of couplingillustrated in FIG. 2. Before the additional length of screw thread 30canbe used, however, it is necessary to reface 'the tool joint, i.e.,remove the necessary amount of the tool joint face so that the tooljoint faces 25 and 26 come together in binding engagement when the screwthreads 20 and 23 are tight. If too little of the tool joint face isremoved, the screw threads 26 and 23 will not tighten up and thetool'joint coupling will not be rigid and leakage will occur. Also, thetool joint coupling can be sufiiciently loose to cause a thread toshear, separating the tool joints, during a drilling operation.

The present invention makes use of pin and box adapters having thespecificationsrof new tool joints and manufactured from exceptionallyhard and durable metal to align apparatus that gauges and refaces a tooljoint precisely to the specifications of a new tool joint. 7 A referencemeans 'is provided on the adapter to gauge the amount of tool joint facethat canbe removed. FIG. 3

illustrates one embodiment of an adapter identified by reference numeraland FIG. 4 illustrates an adapter for a box tool joint identified byreference numeral 36.

The refacing device 4, in addition to having an adapter, includes amandrel 37 coupled to a gear reduction box 38 through a detachablecoupling 39, and thence to a motor 44 The mandrel 37 is disposed in ahousing 41 that supports a cutting device 42 and a gauge43.

The housing 41 has a rear cylindrical chamber 46 with an axis coincidingwith the rotational axis 24 of mandrel 37 and defined on one side by aninwardly projecting circumferential shoulder 47 and closed off on theopposite side by an end cap 48 secured to housing 41 by suitablefasteners 49 and to the housing 112 of gear reduction box 38 by suitablefastening. means (not shown). On the opposite side of projection 47 fromchamber 46 is .a

V cylindrical chamber 55 of slightly larger diameter, co-

axial with mandrel axis 24, that receives roller bearing 50. Rollerbearing 50 has an inner race 51 fixed against a shoulder 52 of mandrel37 by means of a retaainer nut 53 threaded on the rear end 45 of mandrel37 to force a coupling sleeve 54 that slides freely on mandrel 37 intoengagement'with the inner bearing race 51. Roller bearmg 59 has an outerrace 2% tightlyfitted to the wall of -chaamber'55.

Adjacent housing chamber 55 is a further enlarged cylindrical chamber 56coaxially disposed with respect to the mandrel axis 24 and having ashoulder 58 transverse to the axis of chamber 56 to receive a rollerbear- 7 preferably cast and then machined down to the requireddimensions. The mandrel 37 rotates freely within the housing 41,supported by bearings 59 and 5'7. The mandrel end 45, disposed'inchamber 46, is coupled by means of separable coupling 39 to shaft ofgear reduction box 38. 'The opposite end of mandrel 37 has an enlargedc1rcul ar plate 66 extending transverse to the mandrel axis 24 withthreaded holes'63 for receiving fasteners 61 to attach adapter 35(several other fasteners circumferentrally disposed about plate 66 arenot illustrated in the view of FIGS. 3 and 4). The central portion ofplate 66 has a recess 67 with side walls that are beveled to receive andtightly follow a projection ring 68 of adapter 35.

The cutting device 42 is supported by housing 41 and arranged to disposea cutting blade 7 0 for transverse and parallel movement with respect tothe mandrel axis 24 to rework the face 25 of pin tool joint 10. Severaltypes ber 66, by a suitable means, such as welding. Cutting blade 70'ismounted for movement parallel to mandrel axis 24 by a carriage 72 havinga base plate 73 with parallel grooves (not shown) that ride'on rails 74and 75 fastened to mounting plate 71. Base plate 73 has an aperture thatreceives a fastener 76, passing through an enlarged opening 77inmounting plate 71 to lock carriage 72 in place at a desired cuttingposition. Base plate 73 has a threaded aperture 78 that receives athreaded rod 80 supported in uprights Sl and 82 for rotational movement.The uprights 81 and 82 are spaced apart and fastened to housing 41 andmounting plate '71 by suitable means, such as welding. Rod 80 has anenlarged neck 83, preventing the rod 80 from moving axially,

oneness towards carriage 72, and a hand crank 34 can be attached to rod8% to position carriage 72.

Cutting blade 7%) is mounted for movement at right angle to the mandrelaxis 24 by a feed mechanism 85, best shown in FIG. 4, having a housingblock 85 with a passage 87 carrying a tubular support 88 for cuttingblade 7%. The tubular support 88 is internally threaded to receive afeed screw 89 disposed in passage 87. Feed screw 89 has an enlarged neck90 to prevent axial movement and a hand crank 91 attached at the endopposite tubular support 88. The operation of hand crank 91 rotates thefeed screw 39 and moves the support 87 in housing block 86, therebycontrolling the position of cutting blade 76 which is attached at theouter end of support 38 at right angle to the mandrel axis 24. Thecutting blade 7b is shown at the angle of approximately 22 degrees to aline perpendicular to the axis of feed screw 89, but other cutting bladeangles may be used, as well as the substitution of diiferent types ofcutting blades.

The gauge 43, illustrated in specific detail in FIG. 5, is supported byhousing 41 through a mounting arm 9% that is held in a support block 92attached to housing 41. The gauge 43 may be pivoted about support block92 and moved parallel to the mandrel axis 2 by loosening the wing nut 93that clamps the mounting arm S d in the support block 92.

The gauge 43 is composed of a frame 95 having a fiat face 96 with anindex scale 97 at one end, calibrated in units of length. At theopposite end of frame face Q6 from the scale $7 a pointer 5 3 ispivotally attached by a pin 62. Pointer 93 is of substantial length andextends to move along the scale 97 as the pointer 93 is pivoted. Theposition of pointer 93 is determined by the engagemerit of a ballcontact member till loosely held in a socket Ital for rotationalmovement without dropping out. The pointer 9?; is biased by means of aspring ltll, retained in place by a guide rod no attached to the pointer98 on the opposite side from contact member @9. The spring 19$ actsagainst the contact member 103 held in a tubular retainer 134. Retainer19 i is opened at both ends and is attached to the frame 95. The contactmember it??? is biased against an inwardly inclined lip 165 by springifil to prevent the contact member 193 from falling out.

It can be seen that the gauge 43 is arranged to have the contact members99 and H3 inserted in a space between the faces of two members to gaugethe distance, pointer 98 pivoting to indicate on scale 97 the gapdimension. The gauge 43 is also useful to measure the spacing when oneor both of the member faces is moving, since the contact members and 163are free to rotate without changing the position of pointer 98. Thecontact members and Hi3 significantly reduce frictional effect and, withhard bails similar to ball bearings, a substantial gauge life isrealized. The scale 97 can be calibrated in thousandths of an inch, theillustrated scale having a maximum scale deflection of 9G thousandths ofan inch to the right (as viewed in FIG. 5), from the upright zeroposition of pointer 98, and a marking of reject to the left of the zeroposition.

The motor 49 is coupled through the gear reduction 33 and coupling 3 tothe mandrel end 45 to rotatably drive the mandrel 37. A number of typesof motors may be used, such as an electric or an air driven motor. Themotor ill has a casing lit) that is mechanically coupled by a housingbracket 111 to the housing 112 of the gear reduction box 38. The gearreduction box 38 may take many forms, the purpose being to reducerotational speed and to increase torque capacity. The gear reduction boxmay be eliminated where a motor of suitable rotational speed and torquecapacity is available for direct coupling to the mandrel 37.

recisc alignment of the tool joint refacing device 4 in a tool joint isprovided by the use of adapters that are removably attached to themandrel plate 66, adapter box 55 being for the pin type tool joint (MG.3) and adapter 36 being for the box type tool joint (FIG. 4). Theadapter 35 has annular ring 115 with a conically shaped aperture 116arranged, when fastened to the mandrel plate 65, to extend coaxiallywith the mandrel axis 24. The walls of conical aperture lid convergefrom the largest diameter at the housing opening 6b to the smallestdiameter at the projection ring that mateably fits in engagement withthe wall of mandrel plate aperture 67. The adapter 35' has a fiat outerface 121 at right angles to mandrel axis 24. Fastener holes ll?" areprovided in adapter 35, enlarged to receive the head of fasteners 61 insuch a manner that the adapter 35 can be removed without having toremove the fasteners 61. Such an arrangement is conventional in themachinery art, accomplished by having a portion of the aperture 117enlarged to pass the entire fastener, including its head, and anadjaccnt portion of the hole which is narrowed down to receive only thesmaller diameter threaded portion of the fastener and permitting thefastener head to clamp against the shoulder formed by narrowingaperture. The adapter 35 is removed by loosening the fasteners 61 androtating and pulling the adapter 35 away from mandrel 37.

The wall of adapter aperture Elle receives a screw thread Ella?extending helically about the axis of mandrel 3'7. The screw thread lidis designed in conjunction with the taper of the conical aperture 116 tothe specification of a new box type tool joint. The adapter 35 is madefrom a hardened metal that resists wear and is durable so that theadapter 35 is in essence a standard adapter with which the used pin tooljoints can be compared. One notable difference between the adapter 35and a typical box type tool joint is that the screw thread 118 does notextend as far in the adapter 35. In other words, when a pin type tooljoint is tightly screwed into the adapter 35, a substantial length ofthe screw thread 26 adjacent the tool joint face 25 will not be engaged,leaving a gap 126 between the tool joint face 25 and the adapter outerface 121. For every used tool joint that meets the specification or" anew tool joint the distance of gap 120 will be the same. But, for a usedtool joint that has worn threads, the tool joint will screw farther intothe standard adapter 3.55 and the distance of gap 120 will decrease. Byusing a reference means, adapter outer face 121, the dimension of ap 12bis a direct check on how much tool joint face to remove to permit thetool joint faces to come together with tool joint screw threads in tightengagement.

A suitable instrument can be used with the reference means, adapterouter face 121, to compare with the gap 1'26 standard specifications aseach used tool joint is screwed tightly onto adapter 35. For example,gauge 43 can be disposed in gap 12% to place contact member 1&3 inengagement with adapter outer face 121 and contact member 99 inengagement with tool joint face 25. The gauge pointer 3 will thenindicate the gap dimension. As shown in FIG. 5, the scale 97 indicateszero when the gap spacing is identical to spacing for a new or properlymachined pin tool joint. If pointer 3 moves to the right, as viewed inFIG. 5, the dimension for gap 126 is small and the pointer 93 indicatesthe amount of tool joint face that can be removed. If the pointer 98moves to the left, dimension of the gap $.26 is larger than for a newtool joint, and the tool joint face 25 cannot be reworked with outhaving to rethread the tool joint and on-the-site refacing cannot beaccomplished.

in this latter case, the scale S97 appropriately indicates that the tooljoint is a reject.

For a box tool joint the adapter as is used (FIG. 4-).

Adapter 36 is attached to mandrel 37 by means of fasteners 61 disposedin apertures 1Z5 identically arranged as the apertures H7 in adapter 35for removal of adapter 36 from mandrel 3'7. Adapter 36 has a circularshoulder as with an outer fiat face 126 lying in a plane at right angleto the mandrel axis 24. Projecting away from the adapter outer face 126is an extension 127 areas-ea having a portions of uniform circular crosssection and then having an end 9 that tape-rs inwardly in a conicalfashion about the mandrel axis 24. The surface of adapter end 9 has ascrew thread 128 extending helically about the axis of mandrel axis 24.

The taper of adapter end 9 and the screw thread 12% are arranged inaccordance with the, specification of a new pin tool joint. When a newbox type tool joint is screwed into tight engagement with adapter 36,the tool joint face will come up on the adapter end' 9 to a point wherethe taper begins, immediately adjacent the adapter portion 53. Theadapter outer face 126 and tool joint face 26 form a gap lit with adimension, when the tool joint 11 is -a new tool joint, that can bedetermined and appropriately marked for gauging the variation of otherbox tool joints. A tool joint that has a worn thread will produce asmaller dimension for gap 139 and tool joints on which no more tooljoint face can be removed will have a large dimension for gap 13%.Adapter 36 can be made from the same type of hardened, durable metal, asdescribed for adapter 35. As with adapter 35, gauge 43 can be disposedbetween the adapter outer face 126 and tool joint face 26 to determinethe dimension of gap 130 and ihdicate the amount of tool joint face' toremove. The scale 97 can be used by selection of the same dimension forgaps 123i and 136 with properly machined tool joints.

In essence, it can be seen that each of the adapters 35 and as functionas a standard, and by using a reference means on the adapter thevariation of the used tool joint from the standard can be determined Theoperation of the refacirig device is generally apparent from theprevious description. The inspection and refacing operation can beaccomplished at the rig site where the pipe is disposed on a rack stand3, referring to FIG. 1 which only shows one of several racks that may beused to support the pipe section 2. The refacing device, with eitheradapter 35 or 36, depending on the type of tool joint being inspected orreworked, is positioned opposite the tool joint. Motor 40 is started toengage the screw thread of the tool joint with the adapter screw threadin a rigid mechanical thread joint. Motor 5%, through gear box 38,provides suiiicient torque to rotate the tool joint and pipe section 1on the rack stand 3. A suitable gauge is then inserted, for examplegauge 43, to indicate the condition of the tool joint by measuring thedistance between the tool joint face and reference means, the adapterouter face. If there is enough tool joint face left for removal, themotor 116 is energized to rotatabiy drive the tool joint and the pipesection attached thereto and the hand cranks 84 and 91 of cutting device42 are adjusted to position the cutting blade 70 to rework the tooljoint face to the specification of a new tool joint. extension portion 3is recessed sufficiently below the lower edge of tool joint face 26 topermit reworking of the entire tool joint face 26. The outer edge of thetool joint face can be beveled and the appropriate groove can be cut onthe inner edge of the tool joint face with the refacing device 4. a

When refacing of the tool joint is completed, the direction of rotationof motor 40 is reversed and the refacing device 4 is unscrewed from thetool joint.. Gauge 43 can be disposed to indicate the amount of tooljoint face that need be removed even during the refacing of the tooljoint. The fastener aperture, either 117 for adapter 35 or 117 foradapter 36 can be plugged to present a uniform face for the gaugecontact member 105, or the adapter shoulder 66 can be extended so that asubstantial uninterrupted portion of outer face 126 is available for thecontact member 163 to ride on.

Therefacing device may be hand held to counter the m 6;) the refacingdevice during the refacing operation. A further advantage of suspensionis that the refacing device 4 is arranged for movement in any direction,as the tool joint moves, without changing the important alignment of thetool joint and cutting blade 76 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The suspension apparatus 5, is one embodiment of apparatus that issuitable for achieving the aforementioned advantages. In particular,suspension apparatus 5 includes a base 146 having legs 141 and 142 thatlie on ground 6 coming together at one end to form a V and a crossmember 143 connected between the legs 141 and 142 to complete thegeneral shape of an A frame. The refacing tool is suspended from a cable144 attached to a connecting rod 145 that is in rigid engagement at abalance point with the refacing device. The cable 144 passes overseveral pulleys 146 spaced along an L-shaped frame 147 attached to andextending vertically from base legs 141 and 42. The frame 147 has an arm148 extending substantially parallel to base t l-ti over the refacingtool. Connected in the cable line is a spring 149 of When adapter 36 isused, adapter thread for engagement with rotational effect of the motor40, or the re-facing device 7 can besuspended, with one of theadvantages being the elimination of the need for the operator to standwith large capacity and the cable 144 is attached to a hoist mechanism159 adjacent the base 14%. The hoist mechanism 1549 can be adjusted totighten the cable 144, supporting the refacing device above the groundin a position opposite tool joint 1 and the hoist mechanism can belocked to retain this position. Spring 14?, that is partially stretched,provides a resilient suspension for the refacing device 4, permitting upand down movement with the tool joint 1.

To counter the rotational effect of motor .0, an adjustable connection151 is made between the refacing device and base 14 The adjustableconnection 151 in cludes a leg' 152 having a fork-shaped upper end 1153that embraces the housing 4-1 and is pivotally attached thereto by meansof fasteners 154. Leg 152 slides freely at one end of a tubular mountno. The other end of mount 162 is pivotallyconnected to a bifurcatedreceiver 157 which is in turn pivotaily connected by pin 15% to crossmember 143 for movement in a' 360 degree azimuth with reference to pointof attachment of the bifurcated receiver 157. I

The refacing device 4 is free to move when the suspension apparatus 5 isused, irrespective of the direction of movement of the tool joint 1.Controlled up and down movement is permitted by'spring 149 withconnection 151 free moving in a vertical direction as leg 15?. slides inmount 155. Movement of'the refacing device 4 in the forward or reardirection, as viewed in FIG. 1, is allowable through cable 144suspending the refacing device and universal joint 157 attaching mount15% to the base 146; Movement in a direction to either side, inwardlyand outwardly from the plane of the drawing of PEG. 1, is allowable dueto the arrangement just mentioned in connection with the forward andback movement of the refacing device 4. The refacing device 4 can pivotabout the axis of mount 156, since the leg 152 freely rotates in themount 155, and pivots in leg upper end 153. 7

Thus, the suspension apparatus 5 permits the free movement of therefacing device 4, eliminating the possibility that the tool jointreface will not be true and meet the specifications for a new tool jointdue to irregularly shaped tool joint or a deformed pipe section.

it is apparent that other arrangement of apparatus and modifications ofthe illustrated embodiment can bemade without departing from theteaching of the present invention. to include these changes andmodifications, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A device for refacing a pipe joint having a screw 7 another pipejoint, comprising, means for engaging the screw thread of the pipejoint,

said engaging meanshaving a'member with a taper screw thread arranged'to mate with the screw Accordingly, the scope of patentable inventionis of the pipe joint in a rigid mechanical thread joint;

21 support means;

said member being mounted for rotational movement on said support meansto engage with the pipe joint;

means arranged to rotate said member for the member screw thread to forma rigid mechanical thread joint with the pipe joint screw thread and tothereafter rotatably drive the pipe joint; and

cutting means supported by said support means and movable for refacingthe pipe joint as the pipe joint is rotated;

said engaging means having a reference means spaced from the pipe jointface for use in indicating the amount of pipe joint face that can beremoved.

2. A device for refacing a pipe joint having a screw thread forengagement with another pipe joint, comprising, means for engaging apipe joint having a screw thread, said engaging means having a memberwith a screw thread arranged to mate in locking engagement with thescrew thread of the pipe joint, said engaging means having a face spacedfrom the pipe joint face when the member screw thread is in lockingengagement with the pipe joint screw thread to define a space forgauging the amount of pipe joint face that can be removed;

a support means;

said member being mounted for rotational movement on said support meansto engage with the pipe joint;

means arranged to rotate said member into locking engagement of themember screw thread with the pipe joint screw thread to rotatably drivethe pipe joint; and,

cutting means carried by said support means and movable for refacing thepipe joint as the pipe joint is rotated by said drive means.

3. The device, as described in claim 2, further comprisa gauge meanscarried by said support means and operable to be disposed in the spacebetween said engaging means face and the tool joint face to indicate thespacing.

4. The device, as described in claim 3, wherein,

said gauge means comprises a frame,

a calibrated scale on said frame,

a pointer mounted on said frame,

two resilient contact means spaced apart and arranged to activate saidpointer in proportion to the spacing between said contact means, one ofsaid contact means abutting the engaging means face and the other ofsaid contact means abutting the tool joint face.

5. A portable power tool for refacing pipe joints that may have acrooked and deformed pipe section, compris- 111g,

an adapter having thread means for coupling to a pipe joint by a rigidmechanical thread joint;

said adapter having reference means spaced from said pipe joint facewhen said adapter rigidly engages the pipe joint to form a gap forgauging and cutting of the pipe joint face;

a support frame;

means mounting said adapter for rotational movement on said supportframe;

cutting tool means carried by said support frame and movable to engagesaid pipe joint face;

a drive motor means carried by said support frame and coupled to rotatesaid adapter into rigid engagement with the pipe joint and thereafterrotably drive the pipe joint, including the pipe section;

a suspension means for said support frame to prevent rotational movementof said support frame due to the reaction of the motor means whilepermitting movement of the support frame in other directions.

6. The device, as described in claim 5, wherein,

said suspension means includes a stand having a base that rests on theground,

said stand having an arm supported above said base,

a cable extending from said arm and attached at one end to said supportframe and at the other end to said stand,

resilient means in series with said cable to provide for up and downmovement of said support frame in the vertical direction from theground, and

leg means connected between said base and said support frame to permitside, forward and back movement of said support frame and allow thesupport frame to move up and down, as the pipe joint moves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,620 9/ 15Eitner.

1,397,541 11/21 Owens.

1,437,552 12/22 Reading 82-4 X 1,539,356 5/25 Horstmann.

2,092,637 9/37 Brown 82-4 2,159,287 5/39 Morgan 82-4 X 2,831,387 4/58Ovshinsky 82--24 X 2,900,858 8/59 Gauthier et a1.

3,124,024 3/ 64 Pittman.

WILLIAM W. DYER, In, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR REFACING A PIPE JOINT HAVING A SCREW THREAD FOR ENGAGINGWITH ANOTHER PIPE JOINT, COMPRISING, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE SCREW THREADOF THE PIPE JOINT, AND ENGAGING MEANS HAVING A MEMBER WITH A TAPER SCREWTHREAD ARRANGED TO MATE WITH THE SCREW OF THE PIPE JOINT IN A RIGIDMECHANICAL THREAD JOINT; A SUPPORT MEANS; SAID MEMBER BEING MOUNTED FORROTATIONAL MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO ENGAGE WITH PIPE JOINT;MEANS ARRANGED TO ROTATE SAID MEMBER FOR THE MEMBER SCREW THREAD TO FORMA RIGID MECHANICAL THREAD JOINT WITH THE PIPE JOINT SCREW THREAD AND TOTHEREAFTER ROTATABLY DRIVE THE PIPE JOINT; AND CUTTING MEANS SUPPORTEDBY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND MOVABLE FOR REFACING THE PIPE JOINT AS THEPIPE JOINT IS ROTATED; SAID ENGAGING MEANS HAVING A REFERENCE MEANSSPACED FROM THE PIPE JOINT FACE FOR USE IN INDICATING THE AMOUNT OF PIPEJOINT FACE THAT CAN BE REMOVED.